Celtic seek Uefa dispensation for Cervi, with Boruc needing surgery

Published on Friday 30 October 2009 22:20

ARTUR Boruc will undergo knee surgery for the second time in a year this week if Celtic can obtain clearance from Uefa to replace him in their registered Europa League squad.

The Polish international goalkeeper, who has missed Celtic's last two matches in order to rest a long-standing thigh injury, requires a minor operation on a knee problem. Lukasz Zaluska will continue in goal for today's SPL meeting with Kilmarnock at Parkhead and also for Thursday's crucial Europa League fixture against Hamburg in Germany.

Celtic currently only have Zaluska and Boruc as registered goalkeepers with Uefa. They will seek special dispensation to replace Boruc with their third-choice custodian, the American Dominic Cervi, for next week's match.

"We are hopeful we can do that," said manager Tony Mowbray, "and that will allow Artur to get the knee sorted out. It is not the same knee he had surgery on last year. If he gets it done now, then I would hope he would be available to play again in three weeks time."

Celtic will again be without midfielder Scott Brown today, the Scotland international having suffered a recurrence of his ankle problem, but he may be ready to face Hamburg. Shaun Maloney is doubtful because of tendonitis, but summer signing Marc-Antoine Fortune is back in the squad.

Mowbray was absent from his team's training session at Lennoxtown yesterday as he attended the club's annual general meeting at Celtic Park. He received warm applause when he was introduced before it commenced but was later criticised by one shareholder.

"We have made our worst start to a season at home in 62 years," said Gerard Russell," and our manager has had a very easy ride this morning. There is a lack of motivation from the sidelines from him, standing around with his arms folded, and talk of dressing room unrest."

The complaint left Mowbray unfazed, although his subsequent attempt to blame the media for some of the difficulties which have clearly surrounded his team was not universally accepted.

"You talk about motivation, but I'm a great believer in preparation," said Mowbray. "My work is done on the training ground throughout the week. That is where I put my demands on the players. I give them game plans and they then take it out onto the field and try to make it happen for you.

"There are times during a game when you have to remind players of their responsibilities, but I generally do that during the week. I don't feel I have to defend my management style. Some of the best managers in the world never get out of their seat or gesticulate. Motivation always comes from within. My job is to inspire and give them a cause. That's one of my strengths.

"As for player unrest, I try to keep them happy. The reality is that it is their job to keep me happy with their performances on the field and in training. I have been here for 12 or 13 weeks now and I'm learning about the media and how things are portrayed. I know my relationship with the players is strong.

"It has irritated me recently. When I speak about quality, or how much we have shown in a game, it is portrayed as if I'm rubbishing the players. They are trying to paint a divide between me and the players which is not there. We have some good technical players and we have some players who, when the ball gets to them, play breaks down. We need to bring in more technical players who can retain the ball."

Georgios Samaras, who missed several glaring chances in Wednesday night's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final defeat at home to Hearts, may be one player guilty of lacking the quality Mowbray craves for his team. But at his media conference later yesterday, the manager was at pains to defend the Greek international.

"I wouldn't want a negative spin put on Sammy," he said. "I'm happy he is getting into areas to score goals. I've been speaking to him about when to play in the wider areas of the pitch and when to come inside. He has pace and the ability to travel with the ball. It is about putting the right guy in the right position and a centre-forward needs to score goals."